LeBron James singularly orchestrated the Big Three union. And now that he has opted out of his Miami Heat contract, he’s once again the Alpha Male of pro sports. Teams are scrambling to find the proper finances and expiring contracts, flipping over cushions for salary cap coin.

In the age of me over we ball, Duncan is a corrupt cliche – a winner.We judge stars by rings more than ever. The Heat didn’t win; LeBron won. Kobe or Shaq won a decade ago. But when the Spurs win, Duncan is part of a greater whole, lost in a selfless, Vulcan coda.